Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

ROME, ITALY – Confirmations of big names has arrived for yet another great edition 2010 of “Rock in Roma”  , one of the most successful rock event within the most important  European musical events, that gathers thousands of people every evening in the historic city of Rome l   at the Rome Cappannelle. Summer in Rome is going to be filled with good music !

Right after Ska-p, 99 Posse, Skunk Anansie and The Cult, a new line up of artists has been announced for the much anticipated rock event of the year – Rock In Rome 2010 . Famous names includes the British singer Mika . A multi-platinum artist who  released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion in 2007 which sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and  got the artist to win a Brit Award and receive a Grammy award nomination.

Also in the line-up includes the band – Gossip (formerly The Gossip) who is an American indie-rock band fronted by Beth Ditto. The band was relatively unknown until they hit success with their third studio album, “Standing in the Way of Control”. Their style has been described as “a soul or gospel” voice with “a sort of funky punk soundtrack”. The band stated a liking for post-punk bands birthday-party but also for other genres like dance and hip-hop.

Finally, ZZ Top – an American blues rock trio, formed in 1969 in Texas . ZZ Top is ranked number 44 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”. The trio is one of the longest running rock bands to retain the same line-up. ZZ Top was inducted by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the annual ceremony on March 15, 2004. Cub Koda wrote, “As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of America’s finest blues guitarists working in the hard rock idiom … while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support.”

Other related blog about Rock in Roma

Tickets in pre-sale for “ROCK IN ROMA 2010”  (28 June – 28 July).

MIKA (July 6)

GOSSIP (July 7)

ZZ TOP (July 12)

SKA-P + 99 POSSE (July 13)

SKUNK ANANSIE (July 15)

THE CULT + Special Guest (July 26)

Where:

Ippodromo delle Cappannelle – Via Appia Nuova, 1245 – Roma

Information on : Tel. 06-45496305

And for your stay in Rome also plan to book your place to stay in a comfortable and friendly Rome hotel .

Our blogger : JOSEPH

Our Blogger: Rhodora

The origins of Michael Bublè are Italian: his Grandmother Yolanda is from Carrubo, a small town in Abruzzi, and his  Grandfather is from Teviso in Veneto region. It’s his Grandfather that make Michael closer to classic jazz and swing music of the 40s and 50s, the Mills Brothers, Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin Ella Fitzgerald. Encouraged, Michael learns the ‘’sacred texts’’ of swing and participates in several youth competitions. To open him a way to a major label, however, is the former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who has always been fan of pop music, to introduced him to the producer David Foster, winner of numerous Grammy and Executive Director of the labels that are managed by Warner. Bublé amazed him singing Mack the knife to the wedding of Mulroney’s daughter, after that he finally obtained a contract and in 2003, he published his first album under his name, first in America and then in Europe, he became one of the most singers all over the world. After the big success, in  2005 he appeared with another successful album called it’s time followed two years later by Call me Irresponsible.

In 2009 the new album Crazy Love Michael opens the door of his private emotions to the world. You can see may facets of a man: the boy always happy and optimistic, the angry lover refused, the perfect boyfriend, the not-so-perfect pretender or the only man in a crowded room. In this album you can also hear him singing the eternal friendship that give consolation after a sentimental break in the song written by himself called “hold on” or a story of a couple born under an unlucky star on At this moment.

After almost two and a half years since the last tour in Italy, the great Canadian singer returns to Rome on October 23^rd 2010 for a great concert, to sing for all his fans songs of his new album and some of his greatest hits.

Our Blogger: Raul

Well, these days are strange in Rome. With so many cancelled flights due to the cloud of volcanic ashes hanging over Europe, not everyone is paying attention to one of the most interesting cultural campaingns to take place each year in Italy: the Culture Week.

Like every year this 2010 many interesting activities will take place and besides many of the most famous monuments in Rome can be visited for free! Yes, from April 16 to 25 you will be able to visit the Roman Forum, the CoIosseum and many other great monuments for free, or almost: by instance, to visit the Capitoline museums you would pay only 4,50 Euros, since there is an additional axhibition taking place right now.

We have selected for you some of the most interesting options when it comes to activities. You will find our picks at the bottom of this page.

And don’t forget: your best options for accomodation in Rome are Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel. Contact us today, or make a reservation through our website!

Our Blogger: Raul

-Next July pianist Keith Jarrett and his legendary trio (Jarrett, plus Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette) will visit the Eternal City: an occassion not to be missed for those who love great music.

When you think of the European jazz capitals of the world, Paris and Amsterdam come immmediatly to mind. But every summer Rome hosts a number of increasingly important jazz events that reveal the growing interest of Italian audiences in improvised music.

Slowly the Eternal City is gaining cachet as a jazz city and this status will be crowned next July with the visit of Keith Jarrett, probably the most talented and well-known jazz musician alive.

Jarrett started his career with the George Lloyd quartet and then jumped to public notoriety through his performances with Miles Davis. Jarrett can be seen as the substitute leading figure in the jazz world after Davis’ dismissal. Jarrett brought jazz back to its acoustic roots after a period of electric experimentation renewing in the process the American songbook with new renditions of jazz standards. Besides his song performances, Jarret is also widely acclaimed for his ability to create long improvisations on which jazz, classical musical and even folk and gospel music blend in an omogeneous and usually astonishingly beautiful result.

But not everything is milk and honey with Jarret, as Italian audiences attending the Perugia Jazz Festival a few years ago can confirm. On that occasion Jarrett snipped at the public after what he thought was a misrespect on their side: in fact, the musician finds the slightest sounds from the audience, as coughs or whispers to be highly distracting and has no qualms about letting the audience know how he feels. In fact the organizers of his concert hand cough drops to the public before every performance.

If you will find yourself in Rome during July this is a great opportunity to attend a concert of magnificent music. At Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes we are at your disposition for all your accomodation needs in Rome.

Our Blogger: Jona

Even if the concert is held on Friday the 8^th of October 2010, for sure you are able to hear U2’s most famous song “Sunday bloody Sunday”. The Irish rock band which has sold more than 170 million albums and won 22 Grammy Awards. And that is more than any other rock band has achieved. Not only the selling records will guarantee you an unforgettable evening at Olympic Stadium.

 The road to world wide success has been long. Everything started in 1976, when none of the 4 members were very good musicians. Years went by, and they got better. Everything changed in 1987 when they released hit record The Joshua Tree. U2 has all these years made lot of charity work and helping people with groups like:  Amnesty International, Make Poverty History, the ONE Campaign, Live Aid, Live 8, Bono’s DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa) campaign, and Music Rising.

Tickets can be bought online: www.ticketone.it and prices are very reasonable because 85% of all tickets cost less than 95€, the ones for the field in front of the stage cost 55€ and at least 10.000 tickets cost 30€.  

Our Blogger: Raul

Thinking about a different way to greet the new year? You will be hardly pressed to find a most exciting city than Rome. The eternal city will offer you excitement, culture, and tons of fun to start the new year with the right foot.

Rome houses one of the most interesting art collections in the world: the Vatican Museums, where you will be able to admire the Sistine Chapel. How’s that for a good way to start your year? Not to mention the Capitoline museums, the Trevi fountain, and of course the Coliseum.

Every year a concert is organized at Piazza del Popolo (subway stop Flaminio) to celebrate the new year. And that night fireworks can be seen at Trastevere and Castel Sant’Angelo. But the Roman tradition is to attend a cenone (litterally, a “big dinner”) at a restaurant to celebrate the new year with your relatives and closest friends. The typical dish on this occasion is the Cotecchino e Lenticchie, that’s, sausage and lentils. Near Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes there are many typical restaurants where you will have the chance to experience a truly Roman New Year’s Eve.

Our hotels are conveniently located, with buses and subway stations at a stone’s throw, and the Colisseum is only half an hour away from us. So don’t hesitate to book now with us your accomodation for the New Year or Christmas, and while you are at that, take a look at our special packages!

Happy New Year!

Our Blogger: Wanda

Do you like chocolate? Which one do you prefer? Maybe the black fluid one or the white, the small ones with cream inside or the almond one?

It’s only a matter of choice: at Eurochocolate, to be held at Perugia you will find them all.

Perugia, the city famous for its baci perugina (literally “perugina kisses”, small chocolates with romantic messages which are an institution in Italy) is the perfect location for a chocolate festival. Ten days of exposition, and events, all related to the chocolate world.

Furthermore, like every year, Eurochocolate will offer to its visitors the possibility to learn more about one particular cocoa producing country. The special guest this year is Indonesia, the third country in the world when it comes to cacao production.

And if you are fans of Facebook you can join Faceciock (pronounced “…choc” in Italian) the virtual version of the festival on the popular social network.

On the bazaar in the historical center of Perugia 150 manufacturers of the industry will display its creations for the joy of all the chocolate lovers who will arrive from all around the world.

Enjoy your holidays with a us at Hotel Des Artistes or Yes Hotel and then spend a day to go to the beautiful Perugia city, located only a short train trip away from Rome.

As every two years Venice becomes the dream destination for lovers of art.

Our Blogger: Angelo

The biennal of Venice is actually an international exhibition of arts from all around the world.They’ll open the doors this year on 7^th of June and have an end on the 22^nd of November at Giardini, all’arsenale, and in many other venues in Venice.

The 53^rd international arts exhibition is titled Making Worlds, Bantin Duniyan,Weltenmachen, Construire des Mondes, Fazer Mundos, directed by Daniel Birnbaum.The paints will be on display 4, 5 and 6 June 2009.

Two golden lions will acknowledge the careers of Yoko Ono and John Baldessari, who represent for the organizers of the festival two of the most important contemporary artists.

This year 77 nations will display exhibitions in Venice, a record for the biennale. There will be also 44 events proposed by international institutions. Besides all this, the 66^th Venice International film festival will be held on this wonderful city starting the 2^nd of September until the 12^th of September 2009 directed by Marco Muller. Its purpose is to promote awareness of International cinema in all its manifestations.The most prominent name on this program is Ang Lee, who’s going to award the golden lion for the best film.

This is a unique opportunity to broad your horizons admiring the best in contemporary art in one of the most famous cities of the renaissance. To complete your cultural experience the ideal next step is a visit to Rome, only some hours of train away from Venice. All our staff at Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes will be more than happy to assist all your needs and help you in every possible way to enjoy the best of what Italy has to offer.

Our Blogger: Giuseppe

From 18 July to 2 August 2009, Rome will host the XIII Fina Swimming World Championships.For that event, the most important swimmers from all over the world will be in the Eternal City.

In fact, the athletes who are going to take part in this competition will come from 170 different nations.

This event was first held in 1973 and is now held every two years.

Year and Location of the Swimming World Championships from 1973 to 2007:

The Foro Italico and Ostia Lido (for the swimming competitions in open water) will be the stage of the World Championships Finals in 2009. The next championship will be held in 2011 in Shanghai, China.

This competition has five different disciplines: swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming (or synchro).

This event will bring to Rome a lot of people. Organisers have announced they are ready to welcome all fans who want to attend the competition.

If you look for a comfortable and fantastic accommodation, Yes Hotel will be glad to  give you all the best of hospitality in the Eternal City! Our hotels – Yes Hotel and Hotel des Artistes – offer you special rates to stay in Rome during the World Swimming Championships.

If you don’t want to miss this important sport event, book a room in one of our hotels, which are in the center of the capital.

Find the chance to visit Rome in summer: it is the best period!

Our Blogger: Jona

U2 is an Irish rock band formed in 1976. They have sold approximately 140 million  records worldwide, and the group has beenn awarded a high number of Grammy Awards. With over 30 year career behind, U2 are among the most important bands on the international stage.

From the beginning of their career, an important part of the band’s identity has been the interest in psychological and social themes. Also in these early albums is present the theme of the death of Bono’s mother, deceased when the singer was only 13 years old. The Irish question was first mentioned on the song Sunday Bloody Sunday. While with the song Silver and Gold the group tackles international problems with a song expressing their position against the policy of apartheid in South Africa. With Walk on instead supported Aung San Suu Kyi in her struggle for free elections in Burma.

As for the tour this year,  U2 has two dates booked in Italy at the San Siro stadium in Milan on the  7th and 8th of July. In their concert will present the songs of their latest album titled No Line on the Horizon which is ranked first in the  British, Irish, French, German, Finnish, and even Japanese charts. The tour was titled "360 Tour" due to the 360 degrees design of the scenery that offers the public a perfect vision of the band. The 2009 tour of U2 will begin in Barcelona on 30 June 2009 with stops in 14 European cities

And if you are planning to go to Milan, why not come to Rome, to enjoy a spectacular display of history and culture after seeing a spectacular band? In the Eternal City you won’t find a better place to stay than Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes!